Higher fines for public order violators

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration and the city council are seeking stiffer punishment for public order violators, especially those who damage the environment.

Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said the administration and the council would propose the government raise the fines imposed on offenders.

The current punishment, a Rp 30,000 (US$,12.50) fine, or three-months jail term is too small and an ineffective deterrent, Surjadi said at a meeting between city executives and councilors at City Hall yesterday.

The proposal comes in response to lingering evidence of past violations, such as the soil spilled by developers' trucks on the city's streets.

Surjadi also stressed that stern and consistent action should be taken against offenders.

Raids on illegal roadside vendors were also discussed at the meeting.

The governor said operations on roadside vendors would continue in the most proper way.

For the Tanah Abang market vendors, he said a suitable way was being studied.

The raids on the roadside vendors in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, had led to vendors' violent protests.

They set the district head's office and a vehicle on fire and damaged six other vehicles on Jan. 27. (ste)